Hamsters have been kept for many years as pets, they’re regarded as one of the most popular small pet in the world. Those big eyes, curious nature and stuffed cheeks are hard to resist and therefore i am not surprised that they have charmed people for so many years. However with the increasing of popularity of hamsters, the myths and misconceptions have also come. In this article, i will be point out some popular myths about the hamsters.
1. HAMSTER ARE SMALL ANIMALS SO THEY NEED A SMALL CAGES :-
They may be small in their size but they explore and move a lot. They often run up to eight to nine miles in the wild in just one night. However a wheel is a good way in order to burn some energy by getting some exercise but this doesn’t mean that their cage should be small in size. They will still need some space to explore, dig, play, make a nest, hoard food and just move in it. All of these his cannot happen in a small cage. So you must provide him a large cage of 24 inches by 12, which is an ideal size for them.
2. DWARF HAMSTERS ENJOY TO BITE A HUMAN :-
According to belief, people thinks that dwarf hamsters are the creation of devil and they really enjoy to bite a human but this is just a myth. They have this kind of reputation due to some misunderstandings which i am going to clear. Hamsters have terrible eyesight but they do not feel helpless because of this, and they have actually learned how to deal with this problem. Dwarf hamsters use their teeth often in order to explore something new and figure out what is it, which also includes your hand. However, keep in mind that usually nibbles don’t hurt nor do they draw blood. Also sometimes hamsters can mistake your finger by enemy due to their poor eyesight, especially when you pick them without any warning or wake them up, they can mistake your finger to a food also.
3. HAMSTERS ARE CHEAP PETS AND MAKE GREAT PET FOR CHILDREN :-
They are commonly thought as a great pet for children and also they are a cheap pet. However this not true as first of all, children have an early bed – time usually and hamsters are nocturnal by nature, which means they are active only in night and in the daytime they sleeps. So, children cannot play with them until the child can stay up late at night. Hamsters do not like to sit usually, for cuddles and can be difficult for children to handle them. Many young children can even harm such a delicate animal who does not know how to handle them properly. You should not give your child the responsibility of a hamster until he is mature enough to respect and appreciate the needs of a hamster. Also keep in mind that, hamsters are not one of the most expensive pets but they’re not cheap exactly either. They have their own specific needs including a large space, especially dietary needs, their nocturnal schedule etc. They might also need to visit to a vet at some point of their life which can be little expensive depending on the location of yours.
4. HAMSTERS SMELL :-
Any animal or even human beings can smell badly if their home is not kept clean. Typically, they are not smelly animals, in fact, they’re quite clean and usually groom themselves more than a cat does. They have their separate parts of burrows in order to use as a bathroom in the wild which they either bury or empty out, but they do not have the chance to do this in the cage, therefore, it is up to you to clean their cages. The cage is in the need of cleaning whenever it smells. Female hamsters might emit musky and strong smell when they are in heat. However not all females can smell this strongly and not all of us can detect this smell. Even some male hamsters will have a musky, strong, and pungent smell but you should not mistake this by an issue. It is not a bad smell exactly but it is just different. Both of these smell either used to attract mates or warn other hamsters or animals for their presence.
5. HAMSTERS DO NOT REQUIRE A VET :-
While, hamsters don’t require neutering or vaccinations but sometimes they do need a vet. They can fall sick just like any other animals, whenever they become ill, do not plat the waiting game as he cannot be ok on their own. They are very good at hiding their health problems, so you should watch him daily if any changes occur like changes in behavior, appetite decreasing, or anything ordinary. If you feels that he is sick then take him to vet immediately, do not treat him like disposable pets.